Daylighting Tibbetts en Plein Air

In the “Daylighting Tibbetts Brook en Plein Air” series, Noel Hefele invites us on an intimate journey through the landscapes of the Bronx, where personal history, community bonds, and nature’s resilience intermingle. Each painting extends beyond the canvas to reflect a narrative steeped in generational ties, the artist’s family once traversing the very railroads he now depicts amidst a call for ecological revival.

Initiated in the wake of Hurricane Ida’s destructive wake, these works underscore the immediacy of climate change and urban adaptation. Hefele’s brushstrokes, informed by on-site dialogues and the community’s shared experiences, illuminate the Bronx’s beauty and the urgency of sustainable cohabitation with the environment.

The project’s heart lies in its engagement with residents—from conversations sparked by a child’s curiosity to dialogues with locals who see their stories in Hefele’s hues. These exchanges, some leading to collaborative brush strokes, affirm the paintings as communal portraits—chronicling not only a locale but its living essence.

As we navigate Hefele’s watercolors, we traverse more than a geographic path; we experience the potential rebirth of Tibbetts Brook. This envisioned daylighting—a stream once buried, now poised for reemergence—symbolizes a broader reclamation of natural spaces within our urban tapestry. Here, art becomes an advocate, painting a future where water and city dwell in harmony.

This exhibition, set against the backdrop of a community on the cusp of transformation, serves as a visual catalyst for action. With the use of QR codes, Hefele extends an invitation to delve deeper into the project’s roots, connecting viewers to historical maps and stories that enrich the visual experience.

“Daylighting Tibbetts Brook en Plein Air” is a series of paintings and an evolving dialogue where each brushstroke, each captured light, and each shared story becomes a step toward the collective stewardship of our urban environment. It’s a testament to the power of art to document, inspire, and mobilize—urging us to listen and act in concert with the rhythms of nature that persist amidst our city’s hum.

(Thanks to the Kingsbridge Historical Society for the excellent maps and historical documentation of the area)